What are the benefits of Thorlos?

If you were able to walk barefooted on grass or gentle terrain all the time, you would not need Thorlos. But since most of us walk on man-made surfaces -- concrete, asphalt, hard floors (and let's not forget that man-made surface called the shoe or boot) -- we need protection from those surfaces. Inside the shoe or boot, the foot must move dynamically within a limited range in order for you to walk or run effectively. During all moving activities the foot is subjected to three main forces: Pressure, impact and shearing force. These three forces are responsible for virtually all the damage your foot incurs during standing, walking, running, and other sports and activities that involve bodily movement. In addition, the movement of the feet in moderate and strenuous activities generates perspiration. In fact, during strenuous activities, the feet can produce about 2 pints of sweat in a day . Too much moisture inside the shoe is not healthy for the feet. Moisture that is not evacuated from the shoe provides an environment in which bacteria and fungus can grow, and compounds the effect of the three damaging forces on the feet - pressure, impact and shearing force. Thus, it is critical to control moisture inside the shoe.

Pressure is simply direct force applied to the surface of the feet when you place your weight on them. When standing still, this pressure is static, with about ½ your body weight placed on each foot.

Impact is the sudden and forceful contact between the foot and the surface during walking, running and other sports and activities. It is, in effect, 'dynamic pressure', and it increases the potential for damage to your feet: When you walk, each foot absorbs an impact of approximately 1-1/2 times your body weight. When you run, each foot absorbs approximately 3 to 4 times your body weight. This means that a person weighing 150 pounds would put an impact force of 225 pounds on his or her feet with each walking step, and 450 to 600 pounds on his or her feet with each running step. You can imagine the toll that takes on your feet over the course of a lifetime!

Shearing Force is the movement of different layers of tissue in opposite directions. It occurs when your foot moves inside the shoe or boot, and it causes blistering and breakdown of the tissues in the foot if not controlled or diminished in some way.

The Thorlos anatomically designed, patented terry padding protects your feet from these forces. The padding reduces static pressure and impact, and diminishes shearing forces through what we call the 'Control·Slide®' phenomenon . This means that instead of the tissues on your feet moving in opposite directions, the terry padding moves under your feet, transferring the movement from the tissues of the foot to the terry padding itself. And to ensure that your feet are protected from the adverse effects of accumulated perspiration inside the shoe, surface moisture and water vapor are effectively channeled to the outside of the foot where they can be evacuated through the shoes. This is accomplished with the Thorlos proprietary yarn combinations that include THOR·LON® Acrylic, THOR•WICK® COOL and other high tech fibers that 'wick' moisture away from the foot.

This combination of moisture management and the reduction of pressure, impact and shearing forces reduces fatigue, and helps you to enjoy your sport or activity longer, with the confidence that your feet are protected by the best foot gear available today.

ONLY Thorlos have peer-reviewed, published medical studies that confirm these benefits of pressure, impact and shearing reduction , as well as a study that shows the benefit of enhanced circulation in the lower extremities from wearing Thorlos.

The knowledge gained from these and other medical studies , as well as anecdotal evidence collected over more than 20 years, has been combined in THOR·LO Comfort·Science®. Our experiences have led us to identify 7 elements of comfort: Moisture, Pressure, Shear, Circulation, Temperature, Posture and Stimulus. The understanding of how these 7 elements combine and interact is incorporated into our design and development processes, and it allows us to produce the ultimate in foot protection and comfort for you.

Do Thorlos come in natural fibers - like cotton or wool?

Let's deal with one at time. Cotton is a great fiber for outer apparel. It is cool and breathable; and it feels good next to the skin. Unfortunately, in the closed environment of a shoe, it becomes the enemy of the foot. During activities both mild and vigorous, the foot perspires. Cotton is what is called a hydrophilic fiber - it attracts and absorbs moisture. As the cotton fiber gets wet, the fabric collapses and loses all of its protective capabilities. This of course can lead to blisters and other foot issues, and it's why you will NOT find cotton in Thorlos, except in the tops of a few of our styles (but never in the foot). We put it in the tops to help absorb perspiration that may run down the leg before it gets into the shoe or boot.

Wool is also a great fiber. It has excellent insulating capabilities, and it retains those capabilities when it gets wet. Unfortunately, wool is easily abraded - it is not particularly durable. Like cotton, it too tends to absorb water. It will dry fairly quickly when exposed to the air; but again, in the closed environment of a shoe, like cotton, wool tends to absorb water, the fabric collapses, and it loses its protective capabilities. Many of the Thorlos outdoor products have some wool content; but we blend wool with other high performance fibers that retain their protective resilience to provide insulating capabilities without sacrificing protection and durability.

Will the thickness of Thorlos require an increase in my shoe size?

In about 80% of the cases, yes. Studies have shown that most people tend to wear shoes that are too small for them. Thorlos offer various levels of protection for sports and activities based on the intensity of the activity specific demands placed on your feet. Thorlos offer lightweight, mid-weight and heavy weight padding in activity specific and sport specific designs. The various padding weights and the location of the padding provide appropriate levels of protection for the sports and activities in which you participate (for example, golf is not as demanding on the feet as tennis, so Golf Thorlos have mid-weight padding, while Tennis Thorlos have heavy weight padding). It is important that the shoes you wear are large enough to accommodate the extra thickness of Thorlos. For the best outcome and to achieve full benefit from Thorlos, activity and sport specific footwear should be fitted with Thorlos activity and sport specific sock products on your feet. No one wants to feel that their shoes are too tight - that leads to discomfort and less than optimal performance. Follow our fitting tips to get your best Thorlos fit.

How do I get a proper fit with Thorlos?

Thorlos sock products work optimally when fitted as a 'system' with your shoes. If you wear them with shoes that have already been fitted with 'ordinary' socks, you may experience the sensation that your shoes are too tight. If your shoes are too tight your feet may hurt, they may feel hot or they may feel cold; and you don't want this to be the case. So be sure to follow this fitting guide to get the best protection and comfort from your Thorlos and your shoes:

Put on Activity Specific Thorlos when being fitted with the appropriate activity specific shoes.

Tip: Activity Specific Thorlos may increase your shoe size.

Select the activity specific shoe of your choice.

Tip: Choose the shoe size to fit the larger of your two feet (Most people have one foot larger than the other).

Tip: Purchase shoes by the way they feel, not by the size indicated (Sizes differ among all shoe styles).

Try the activity specific shoes on with Activity Specific Thorlos and feel how they fit.

Tip: You should be able to move your big toe comfortably.

Tip: There should be the width of your thumb nail between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.

Tip: The heel should fit comfortably with minimal slippage.

Tip: Notice that the ball of your foot fits comfortably into the widest part of the shoe.

Tip: Fitting should be done towards the end of the day, as the feet tend to enlarge slightly from the exertion of daily activities.

Purchase your activity specific shoes and Activity Specific Thorlos as a system for maximum protection and comfort.

GUIDE FOR FITTING Thorlos SOCK PRODUCTS WITH BOOTS

[NOTE: Boots typically have a deeper last and thus there are fewer fitting issues with boots than with 'regular' shoes]

Thorlos sock products work optimally when fitted as a 'system' with boots. If you wear them with boots that have already been fitted with 'ordinary' socks, you may experience the sensation that your boots are too tight. If your boots are too tight your feet may hurt, they may feel hot or they may feel cold; and you don't want this to be the case. So be sure to follow this fitting guide to get the best protection and comfort from your Thorlos and your boots:

Put on Activity Specific Thorlos when being fitted with the boots.

Tip: Activity Specific Thorlos may increase your boot size.

Select the boot of your choice.

Tip: Choose the size to fit the larger of your two feet (Most people have one foot larger than the other).

Tip: Purchase boots by the way they feel, not by the size indicated (Sizes differ among all shoe and boot styles).

Try the boots on with Activity Specific Thorlos and feel how they fit.

Tip: You should be able to move your big toe comfortably.

Tip: There should be the width of your thumb nail between your longest toe and the end of the boot.

Tip: The heel should fit comfortably with slippage of no more than ¼ inch; and the curve of the back of the boot should match the natural curve of the Achilles tendon area.

Tip: Notice that the ball of your foot fits comfortably into the widest part of the boot. Make sure that the boot flexes in the right place for your foot (at the last 'knuckle' on the big toe).

Tip: The arch area of the boot should 'wrap' snugly around the foot's arch area.

Tip: A key to proper fit is that the space between the eyelets of the boots when they are laced and tied should be about ½ to 1 inch - less than this and the boots are probably too large; more than this and the boots are probably too small.

Tip: Fitting should be done towards the end of the day, as the feet tend to enlarge slightly from the exertion of daily activities.

Purchase your boots and Activity Specific Thorlos as a system for maximum protection and comfort.

Where can I find a store that sells Thorlos?

Go to our dealer locator. There you can search for Thorlos retailers close to you by zip code, by city or state. We recommend that you call before visiting any store to find out what Thorlos styles, sizes and colors they have in stock.

We encourage our consumers to buy from local Thorlos retailers; but these businesses may not always have the particular size, style or color you need, or they may not be conveniently located for you. Therefore, if you are ever unable to find any current Thorlos styles, sizes or colors through this site or local retailers, you can order directly from us by telephone. Just give us a call at our toll-free number: 1-888-THORLOS (1-888-846-7567).

How do I decide which style I should use for the sports or activities in which I participate?

Thorlos are designed and constructed to protect your feet from the specific activity demands of a variety of sports and activities. To select the most appropriate Thorlos for you, follow these guidelines:

Think about what specific sport or activity you will be doing:

What type of shoes, boots or footwear will you be wearing?

What conditions will you be subjected to (for example, will you be doing your activity inside or outside; will there be heat, cold, high humidity or other environmental factors)?

Determine if there is an activity-specific Thorlos product for your particular activity. Thorlos have been anatomically designed, and are available for the following sports and activities:

Aerobics and workouts (Women's Fitness Thorlos)

Basketball

Extreme Weather

Golf

Hiking / Backpacking

Hunting

Mountain Climbing

Running

Skiing

Snowboarding

Tennis

Trail Running

Walking

Weight lifting / training and workouts (Men's Fitness Thorlos)

In addition, Thorlos Lifestyle products are available in the following categories:

Casual

Dress

Military (combat boots)

Safety Toe

Uniform in regular and support versions (typically worn with public safety uniforms, government uniforms or company uniforms)

Western (typically worn with western dress boots, western riding boots or western work boots)

NOTE: Because of the specifically designed protective qualities of Thorlos sock products, many people choose to wear sport and activity specific Thorlos for sports and activities other than those for which they are designed. In some cases this is OK - for example, racquetball (and other court sports) creates impacts on the feet that are very similar to tennis; and thus Tennis Thorlos typically will provide adequate protection for other court sports such as racquetball. However, in general we cannot recommend using sport specific Thorlos for sports or activities other than the ones for which they are designed. For example, Running Thorlos are designed to provide pressure, impact and shearing protection for the repetitive heel-toe motion involved in running. They are not designed for the quick stops, starts and lateral movements of sports such as basketball or tennis.

Choose the activity specific Thorlos that are appropriate for your sport, activity or lifestyle situation. Many of the Thorlos styles come in multiple top lengths, including over-the-calf, crew (which typically comes up to mid calf), mini crew (which comes up to just above the ankle bone), micro-mini crew (which comes up to just below the ankle bone), and roll-top (which comes up to just above the shoe line). Choose the length that best suits the footwear, the temperature and the playing conditions you will be experiencing. NOTE: Certain very large and very small Thorlos sizes are not available in most stores in all lengths. To see which Thorlos styles are available in various top lengths, go to our "Products" page and click on the individual product.

Selection of the appropriate Thorlos styles is generally very straightforward. However, due to the proliferation of shoe and boot types and the various conditions that you're likely to encounter outside, Thorlos give you a wide range of choices in running, outdoors and snow products. All Thorlos products are inherently designed and constructed with varying levels of protection that are appropriate to the level of intensity of the activities and the conditions in which you will be doing your sport or activity.

In running, for example, most people need the protection of the regular Running Thorlos product. However, many runners prefer a thinner, lighter weight product. Some competitive runners even prefer to train in thicker sock products, but to run competitively in thinner products.

In skiing and snowboarding, many advanced participants prefer a thinner, more lightly padded sock product for more precise edging.

And in hiking and backpacking, new, and diverse styles of footwear, varying terrain and varying climatic conditions give rise to the need for different levels of protection.

For these reasons, Thorlos offer various levels of protection (with heavier or lighter padding) within certain style categories. Overall, the best approach is to choose the level of protection that is appropriate to your own physical condition and the environment in which you will be pursuing your activity. If you have foot issues (most people over the age of 40 have at least some minor foot issues) or are going to be in harsh environments (extreme cold, very challenging terrain, carrying heavy backpacks, on your feet for extended periods of time, keeping a very fast pace, etc.) you will need the highest Thorlos level of protection. If you are pursuing your sport or activity at a more moderate pace, if you have no major foot issues, and if you are not planning to be in harsh environments, you might want to choose a medium level of protection. If you are not participating in vigorous activities, are dressing casually or dressing up, or are just 'hanging out,' a lower level of protection would be appropriate for you.

To get help in choosing the most appropriate type of Thorlos for your situation, go to our "Products" page and see the various styles we offer. For each style there is a usage guide and a grid showing the padding benefits of the product. If you still have questions, go to our Contact Us page and ask us for help in choosing your Thorlos, or call us on our toll-free number (1- 888-THORLOS, or 1-888-846-7567). We realize that with so many products it is not always easy to choose; but we're always available to help you.

Do you have consumer catalogs that have information about your products?

What is the Thorlos warranty/guarantee and how to return?

The Thorlos unconditional guarantee is a 30-day no risk trial. It states: "Thorlos feel better than your 'ordinary socks' or your money back." This means that within 30 days of purchasing Thorlos, if you decide that your feet do not feel better in Thorlos than in your ordinary socks, we will refund the full retail price of your Thorlos. We ask that you return the product with a dated sales receipt and provide us your name and full mailing address so that we can send your refund.

Thorlos do not have a durability warranty. No product made from textile fibers is indestructible. The durability of Thorlos depends on the conditions in which you wear the product, how often you wear it, whether or not you have been properly fitted with a new pair of shoes, and whether or not you follow proper care and laundering instructions. For best results, we recommend a minimum of a three pair 'rotation' (one pair on your feet, one pair ready in your sock drawer, and one pair in the wash at any given time). We also recommend that you follow the fitting tips and care and laundering instructions. Experience has demonstrated that a multi-pair rotation, proper fitting, and following care and laundering instructions precisely will provide you with optimal product life and performance from your Thorlos sock products.

Return instructions are printed on the back packing slips. If you no longer have the packing slip, on the inside of your package, print your name, address, reference your order #, and tell us if you want credit back to your credit card or an exchange. Send your socks to:

What do I do if I have a complaint about my Thorlos?

We want to know about it! Our aim is to have you as a loyal customer for life. Your issue is our opportunity to learn and continually get better at what we do. Submit your information by going here, calling us at: 1-800-438-0286 ext 7254, or write us at:

How should I launder and care for my Thorlos?

Perspiration and unsaturated body acids can cause deterioration of the elastic. Launder your Thorlos as soon as possible after every use.

Thorlos should be laundered and dried inside out to 'fluff' the terry padding and achieve maximum cushioning after each wearing.

Wash Thorlos with like colors: Whites should be washed with white clothes only! Use the warm or cold water setting on your washing machine, and use permanent press or gentle cycle.

Do not use chlorinated bleach, or laundry detergents containing chlorinated bleaching agents, on Thorlos. Use of these agents results in fiber deterioration as well as breakdown of the spandex (elastic) and loss of elasticity.

To receive full benefit of the Thorlos product design, we strongly recommend using liquid fabric softener in the rinse cycle. This is vital to extend product wear. Fabric softener lubricates both the fibers and the elastic, keeping them flexible and allowing them to stretch as designed. It also helps to maintain correct sizing, stretch and durability. Fabric softener sheets in the dryer are NOT a substitute for using liquid fabric softener, although they do help to reduce static in the dryer.

Line drying is not recommended, as it can contribute to the premature breakdown of the elastic core. We advise that Thorlos be tumble dried on permanent press or low heat dryer settings. High dryer temperatures can cause shrinkage and spandex breakdown. The tumbling process in the dryer helps restore the fiber loft and 'reinvigorates' the terry padding for maximum protection.

Be certain your Thorlos have been thoroughly dried after laundering. If they are put away damp, spandex breakdown can result due to excess moisture still present in the elastic.

Put your Thorlos on with care: Place hands on either side of the sock and gather fabric up to the toe area, pulling the sock on around the toes. Then gently pull the socks over the foot and up the leg. Do not grasp socks at the top and insert the foot as this can cause the spandex to weaken and break.

Periodically a loose end of spandex may work itself to the outside of the sock. This is not a product defect. If this occurs, do not pull the elastic because it can cause unraveling. Clip it with scissors before you put the socks into the washing machine to prevent premature pulling, breaking or unraveling.

Treat your Thorlos like what they are - - high priced, high quality protective gear for your feet!

Do you have promotions or special offers?

Do you have an outlet store that sells imperfects?

Its phone number is (704) 873-8243 and is open 10am-5pm Monday through Saturday.NOTE: We have limited quantities of imperfect styles, sizes, and colors on hand: They vary during the year based on production schedules and production volumes.

Do you offer donations or sponsorships to charities and charitable events?

Yes, we do. At THOR·LO, Inc. our commitment to our consumers does not stop with their foot health. We regularly support a number of national and local charitable and non-profit organizations, including the following:

Alzheimer's Association Memorial Walk

American Diabetes Association

American Hiking Society

Avon Breast Cancer Walk

Boy Scouts of America

Colorado Air National Guard

Conservation Alliance

Homeless Shelters in several major Metropolitan Areas

Outdoor Industry Association

U.S. Military

Marine Moms

National Trail Days

Race for the Cure

Sierra Club (Local Chapters)

State and Local law enforcement agencies and FOP Chapters

Local and area YMCA's

Walking Examples Group of Otsego County

We also donate as we are able on an "ad hoc" basis. To request a charitable donation from THOR·LO, Inc., please send us the following information:

Name of charitable organization and its purpose;

The tax-exempt ID number of the organization;

A mailing address, and telephone number, as well as the name of the key contact person at the organization;

The nature of the gift you are requesting, as well as the amount or quantity;

Do you sponsor individuals and/or teams?

Yes, from time-to-time we do, usually with product donations. To inquire about sponsorships, please go to the contact us page. Your information will be routed to the appropriate decision-maker. Please include the following information:

Your name and contact information

The name and date of the event or specific sponsorship information and a brief description of what is requested (i.e. monetary sponsorship, product, t-shirts, patches, etc.)

The nature of the benefits that THOR·LO, Inc. would receive by sponsoring you (i.e. number of impressions, demographics of target audience, word of mouth testimonial potential, plus any other tangible or intangible benefits you can identify)

I have an idea for a new style or an improvement to Thorlos products. How do I submit it?

Before you submit any ideas to us, please understand that we cannot guarantee intellectual property protection for unsolicited ideas. Because we are constantly looking at new product ideas and applications, it is rare that people submit ideas that have not already arisen. Being a recognized innovator in our industry, you can be sure we have seen or heard literally thousands of ideas. But we never know where the next great idea will show up. So, if you want to share an idea with us, you can submit your idea by:

How do I submit an application to work at THOR·LO?

If you live in the Statesville, NC area, you can come to our location at 2210 Newton Drive in Statesville to fill out an application. If you would like to submit a résumé, click here or you can send it to us at: